Political parties want road map to polls

Leaders of major political parties yesterday asked Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus for a road map to reforms and the next general election.

They also expressed concerns over the rising prices of essentials and a lack of law and order.

Leaders of BNP, Jamaat, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, six parties each from Ganatantra Mancha and Baam Gonotantrik Morcha platforms held dialogues with Prof Yunus at state guesthouse Jamuna.

The first dialogue was with a six-member BNP delegation led by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the party.

“We demanded a road map to the next election,” he told reporters after the talks.

The chief adviser told them that elections are the interim government’s number one priority.

The BNP also demanded removal of “one or two individuals in the interim government who are against the main spirit of the interim government and the mass uprising”.

A new election commission should be formed immediately based on political consensus, and the law through which previous ECs were formed should be repealed.

The election reform commission should not have controversial members, Fakhrul said.

The BNP demands that members of ECs that held “farcical” national elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024 be brought to justice, he added.

“Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque who was key to destroying the electoral system and cancellation of the caretaker government system should face sedition charges.”

When the Awami League was in power, most of the appointments to the High Court Division were partisan, and about 30 judges are still working there, Fakhrul pointed out.

It is worrying that people who are being arrested on specific charges like corruption and murders are being released on bail, he said, adding that false and politically motivated cases filed during the Awami League need to be withdrawn.

“Some police officers and former ministers are fleeing the country. We ask the interim government to look into how they are fleeing and who is helping them.

“Many in the civil administration who assisted the fascist government are still there. They should be removed and appointments of new deputy commissioners facing allegations should be cancelled.”

BNP urged the interim government to take action against those trying to create anarchy in the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

“Some Hindu people, ahead of the Durga Puja, are spreading propaganda that the Hindu community is being attacked. It is absolutely false and it is a conspiracy against Bangladesh. We have asked the interim government to consider these issues very seriously.”

Interim government previously said the focus of the dialogue would be to learn how political parties could cooperate with the six reform commissions. Besides, discussions would cover the state of law, order and Puja.

JAMAAT WANTS TWO ROAD MAPS

Jamaat-e-Islami wants a road map to reforms and another to the next election, said its Ameer Shafiqur Rahman.

“If reforms are successful then the election will be successful. We hope the government will remain impartial and hold a free and fair election,” he said.

People who face charges of killing, money laundering, and being involved in enforced disappearance, should be punished, he said.

Jamaat hopes the interim government will not unnecessarily prolong its stay in power, he said.

Regarding concerns over law and order during Puja, Shafiqur said, “If the law enforcers and people work together, we hope people of Hindu community will be able to hold a remarkable Durga Puja this year.”

Jamaat will unveil its detailed reform plan on October 9, he said.

LEFT ALLIANCES

Ruhin Hossain Prince, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, said, “If there is delay [before election], evil forces may do something.”

The left parties demanded urgent government steps to control the prices of essentials and establish law and order.

‘The Liberation War cannot be turned into something controversial. Democratic rights are being snatched away by banning student politics in universities while communal forces are getting advantages. This cannot go on,” he said.

Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, “We see some weaknesses, failures, and limitations of the administration.”

Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said he proposed forming nine more reform commissions.

The chief adviser also held dialogues with leaders of Amar Bangladesh Party, two factions of Gono Odhikar Parishad, and Hefajat-e Islam.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy that Prof Yunus informed the parties that reform commissions will consult the political parties, other stakeholders before filing their reports in three months.

After receiving the reports, the interim government will meet the parties again to reach a consensus regarding the reforms. The timeline will depend on that consensus, he added.

Preparations for election and formation of the EC will be done in the meantime an election can be held as soon as the consensus is reached, he said.

Mahfuj Alam, special assistant to the chief adviser, said the government would hopefully break the cartels responsible for higher commodity prices.

Government officials who assisted the fascist regime will be brought to justice, he added.

Asked whether Sheikh Hasina would face trial, Mahfuj said government agencies were working to bring all perpetrators to book.